Bangui, 11 Aug - (ANA) - The interim president of the Central African Republic (CAR) has chosen a Muslim prime minister to head a transitional government. It comes in the wake of an agreement signed last month between rival militias aimed at ending more than a year of religious conflict.

Mahamat Kamoun, an economist, is the first Muslim prime minister in the Christian-dominated country. More than half of the population is in urgent need of assistance, the UN says.

CAR's religious make-up

Population: 4.6 million

Christians - 50%

Muslims - 15%

Indigenous beliefs - 35%

Source: Index Mundi

An estimated 20% of inhabitants have fled their homes in the conflict which began as mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in March 2013. This gave rise to the creation of largely Christian anti-Balaka militias and the situation descended into ethno-religious violence.

The Seleka leader, Michel Djotodia, stood down as president in January as part of regional efforts to end the fighting. Both sides have been accused of war crimes such as torture and unlawful killing. The presence of some 7,000 international peacekeepers have struggled to stem the violence and revenge attacks. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 August 2014---------------